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Leave YOUR Writing on the Wall! Sound off on our message board with your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game as well as your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent. Whether your message is a simple "Go Steelers" or detailed, in-depth analysis, tell us what you think!
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Steelers at Chiefs
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Fan Poll |  |
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Who deserves the most blame for the Chiefs loss?
• Special Teams
• Offensive Line
• Turnovers
• The Defense
• Tommy Maddox
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PIT - TD, Chad Scott, 26 Yd interception return (kick is good).
PIT - FG, Jeff Reed 20 Yd.
KC - TD, Dante Hall, 100 Yd kick return (kick is good).
PIT - TD, Plaxico Burress, 33 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
Second Quarter
KC - TD, Priest Holmes, 3 Yd run (kick is good).
KC - TD, Jason Dunn, 3 Yd pass from Trent Green (kick is good).
KC - TD, Jerome Woods, 46 Yd interception return (kick failed).
PIT - FG, Jeff Reed 51 Yd.
Third Quarter
KC - TD, Priest Holmes, 4 Yd run (kick is good).
Fourth Quarter
KC - TD, Priest Holmes, 31 Yd run (kick is good).
Key Stats & Facts
• Turnovers: Steelers 4, Chiefs 2 -- 'Nuff said.
• Goal to Go Efficiency: Steelers 0 for 2, Chiefs 3 for 3 -- Red zone problems continue to vex the Steelers. Cowher & Mularkey have GOT to fix our red zone offense. All that passing yardage doesn't mean squat if you can't punch it in.
• Cheap TDs: Steelers 1, Chiefs 3 -- The Steelers got a gift on Chad Scott's INT return for a TD. But the Chiefs scored TD's on a 100-yard kick return, a 46-yard INT return of a tipped pass, and a punt return to the Steelers 7-yard also set up an easy score. Tough to win when you give that many points away.
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Steelers Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
T. Maddox |
47 |
28 |
336 |
1 |
3 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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A. Zereoue |
11 |
48 |
0 |
22 |
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J. Bettis |
4 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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H. Ward |
9 |
146 |
0 |
50 |
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P. Burress |
7 |
115 |
1 |
33 |
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V. Haynes |
3 |
21 |
0 |
13 |
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Chiefs Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
T. Green |
21 |
15 |
125 |
1 |
2 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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P. Holmes |
26 |
122 |
3 |
31 |
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T. Richardson |
5 |
19 |
0 |
6 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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J. Morton |
4 |
44 |
0 |
15 |
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E. Kennison |
4 |
43 |
0 |
21 |
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T. Gonzalez |
2 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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D. Washington |
9-1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
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C. Haggans |
6-0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
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J. Farrior |
5-1 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
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C. Hampton |
3-0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
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C. Scott |
1-0 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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E. Warfield |
6-0 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
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S. Barber |
4-0 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
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R. Sims |
4-0 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
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J. Woods |
2-0 |
0.0 |
1 |
1 |
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G. Stills |
3-0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
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Frustration!
After getting swarmed by K.C. defenders all day, Maddox finally decided to do what his line seemed utterly incapable of... get a good lick on a D-lineman.
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Don't Blame Tommy
O-Line flat-out STUNK vs. KC
Article by McMillen & Wife
It's iroic that in what was unquestionably a game of big plays, perhaps the most defining moment came after the whistle at a time when the outcome of the game was no longer in question. After spending most of the afternoon getting swarmed relentlessly by K.C. defenders, Tommy Maddox finally decided to do what his offensive line seemed utterly incapable of doing... get a good lick on a D-lineman. When R-Kat Truluck jostled Maddox around a bit following the whistle on a false start, it was the final straw. Maddox jammed the ball into Truluck's face, shoved him backwards and socked him in the chin, then spiked the ball and went after him for more before the officials finally intervened.
Some would say it was poor judgement by Maddox because it cost the Steelers 15 yards. But to me, it was a microcosm of the entire game: Tommy Maddox fighting his ass off while his offensive line stood by watching, failing yet again to come to his aid.
Now, about that offensive line...
Where was the offensive line? I don't mean during the bulk of the game (which is a valid question in and of itself), but more specifically, where was the O-line during Tommy's altercation with Truluck? The officials should have had to break up a small melee as Steeler linemen, all very close to the action, rushed to the aid of their QB. Yet it was only Tommy out there fighting... just as it had been all afternoon.
Of particular concern is the currently horrendous play by both of our offensive tackles, Marvel Smith and Todd Fordham. Now I realize that both of these guys are going through an adjustment period and no one on the line played a particularly good game, so I'm gonna refrain from any name-calling. After all, we all expected the line to struggle a bit early in the season. But I'm not gonna give 'em a pass, either, because Smith and Fordham were beaten BADLY no less than 10 times (5 apiece, by my count). I'm not talking little errors here and there, folks... I'm talking complete, play-busting breakdowns. Totally unacceptable. Until Smith and Fordham get their act together, the offense is going to be very inconsistant.
This was the second straight week that our run blocking flat-out stunk up the joint. No surprise there, considering how poorly our tackles played. But the entire line was also guilty of repeated breakdowns on passing plays. It's a testiment to Maddox' toughness that he didn't leave the field on a stretcher. Clearly, the crowd noise played a factor, because our boys (Simmons, in particular) were repeatedly sluggish getting off the ball at the snap. You could tell that they couldn't hear the cadence, and I can't help but wonder if they wouldn't have played a much better game at home. Not making excuses... just making an observation. Whatever the cause, Tommy took a pounding.
Speaking of Tommy Maddox...
Those of you out there suddenly questioning Tommy's ability can bite me. I've been hearing this steady buzz on the message board about Maddox overlooking "wide open" receivers, how he had such an "off game" and was thowing bad passes even when he wasn't pressured. Pure bullshit.
I don't know what you guys think you saw, but you're wrong. I did hear that jerk-off Randy Cross wrongly accuse Maddox of failing to spot Randel El running down the sideline uncovered on one play. They even showed an isolation show of Randle El to "prove" the point. But in the next shot of the play -- a longer camera view this time -- you could clearly see that the CB peeled off because the safety was in position deep. In otherwords, Randle El was covered.
Others have said that Tommy was dinking and dunking instead of hitting "open" men downfield. Again, total bullshit. Maddox could clearly be seen surveying the field throughout the game, only dumping the ball short when he found no one else open. It's one of the reasons he took so many shots, because he was frequently trying to find someone open deep. Conversely, when his primary receiver was open on a short route, he took it, so there were some very quick passes. But Tommy wasn't playing scared. No way, no how. You people are wrong.
I reviewed the game tape, taking notes on each and every offensive play. By my count, Tommy threw exactly two bad passes when he wasn't pressured. The first sailed over Ward's head and out of bounds in the first quarter, and the 2nd was just before his pick in the end zone when a linebacker batted the ball and it was nearly intercepted. Other than those two instances, Maddox was nearly flawless when given time, and that includes his final interception when, on 4th and 15, it was better to take a shot downfield than just throw it away.
Frankly, aside from that one devastating end zone interception, Maddox was pretty damn good under pressure, too. Admittedly, his end zone pick was a pass that never should've been thrown. The blitzer came untouched and with zero time, Tommy threw to the hot read. He never even saw the ILB coming across to pick him off. Nonetheless, he never should've thrown that pass... he should've taken the sack. However, with the Steelers trailing 34-20, I suspect Tommy felt we had to have a TD there rather than settle for 3. Instead, we got nothing.
About that interception tipped by Randle El...
BTW, there are those who have said that the first pick (the one that went through Randle El's hands) was a "horrible" pass by Maddox. You're wrong. Randle El said as much after the game, and an isolation shot of El on the play proved it. It was a camera angle shown on the Pittsburgh news and not during the game, so most of you probably haven't seen it. El got tangled up with the defender a bit and cut his route about a step short as he broke toward the sideline. It was a timing route and Tommy was throwing to a SPOT... Randle El stopped too abruptly and failed to get to that spot. Hence the impression that the ball was thrown "behind him." The reality is, Randle El was behind the ball.
Speaking of Randle El...
Why was El not used more on gadget plays? Was Mularkey simply hell-bent on making me look like an idiot for my pre-game suggestion that we use lots of El under center? Whatever the case, not using him was a mistake. He could've provided us with a running threat we definitely weren't getting from our backs.
Oh, those LOUSY friggin' special teams...
Those of you wondering why rookie safety Troy Polamalu isn't seeing more playing time need to look no further than the two HUGE kick returns by Dante Hall. Polamalu was the primary culprit on both plays. The first return, a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD in the first quarter, turned the tide of the game. The second return, a 45-yard punt return to the Steeler 7-yard line in the 3rd quarter, seatled the game. On both occasions, Polamalu overpursued the play badly, running right by Hall and creating a fatal seam in the coverage.
As predicted, Dick Vermeil DID cry after the game...
Yeah, it's true. Vermeil started bawling in his postgame press conference while talking about how "special" Dante Hall was. At least I got ONE of my pre-game predictions right!
Next up, the 0-2 Cincinnati Bengals. We'll post our pregame comments soon. Until then, bruthas & sistas!
Tim McMillen
Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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Fan Smak & Analysis
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The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the BOTTOM). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!
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Author: Daniel McMullen
Comment: steelers
hi mcmillen and wife, what a great web site...thanks alot....I can look at
your web site but can't reply on the net from work
...but i can send you an e-mail from work...
I live in chippewa pa and work in
new jersey during the week night shift i drive home on
sunday morning and back to nj on tuesday afternoon...anyway your view of the kc
game was excatly what i saw too....tommy played very
well and the o line was in big trouble all day...and when they did not come to
tommy's aid i was just livid..what is going on
there????maybe tommy needs to take them to diner but he can't afford it....I
have watched the tape three times and until the steelers
start winning in the pits on both sides of the ball we will never see them in
the super bowl....they are getting crushed on both
sides of the line...
I have never been a big fan of the 3-4...it worked till the
other teams figured it out....but in my humble
opinion you have to have four big men on that defenseive line not three big men
and one little one....
do you know anything about that
return man they got from the eagles????i can't rember his name....and i have not
read anything about him anywhere since they got
him.....
well gotta go back to work...thanks again for the great web site.....do
you do that sort of thing for a living??????
thanks again
DAN MCMULLEN
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Author: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Coming...How about going?
From Bill Cowher's press Conference 9/16/03
What is Tommy Maddox’s best asset against the rush?
It is his decision making with out a doubt. He has a quick release. He stays in there and he threw a couple of passes in the face of pressure the other day. I think he sees things that are coming and he knows where to go with the ball and he can get rid of it pretty quick.
"I think he sees things that are coming and he knows where to go with the ball"
Really?
Guess it was just me, T3 and Karl that saw the WIDE OPEN WRs he missed, "seeing," ALL DAY, last week. Of course poor pass protection didn't help. No excuses though Tommy blew it quite often settling for a short gain or even a first down when a TD was there.
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Author: mcmillenandwife
Comment: Re: Coming...How about going?
I don't mean to single you out, Tommy, because others have made similar claims on this board... but BOOOOYYYY, are you guys wrong. Aside from the end zone pick (which, although it came under incredible pressure, should never have been thrown), Tommy played amazingly well with very little help. And he did NOT overlook wide open receivers.
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Author: spokane steeler
Comment: maddox bashing?
I cannot freaking believe people are bashing Maddox, who (correct me if I'm wrong factoid) has thrown for more yardage than any quarterback in the NFL these first two weeks. Unbelievable
Yeah, there's been some INTs and some poor decisons, but you're gonna see that with any quarterback, especially the ones who have to throw 50 times a game to carry this offense.
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Author: SteelandBlood
Comment: Re: maddox bashing?
The end zone pick tommy threw was bad, yes, but one of them was tipped by El, and the last one was at the end of the game for pete's sake. As far as wide open receivers, Randy Cross is an idiot, and on numerous plays where "wide open" guys weren't seen, one of two things occurred--Tommy either couldn't see them because Hartings and Fordham got molested, letting in huge amounts of pressure, or Cross pointed out footage where the D-backs were rushing in the direction of the *ball already in the air* leaving their man be since he was out of the play.
As always in the Burgh, the backup QB will become the toast of the town. Hell, everybody loved Mike Kruczek once, didn't they?
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Author: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Not Knee Jerkin here boss
Randy Cross = idiot...100% I agree. But in the cases he pointed out the guy's Tommy wasn't seeing he was right (probably the guy in truck told him )
I'm not bashing Maddox.
I'm not toasting Batch or even suggesting he see any playing time.
I pointed out that Maddox was given poor protection.
Tommy DID miss "seeing" Wide open guys quite a few times. The fact that he hit another guy for a completion is also pointed out in my post.
For the record: I like Tommy Maddox as our QB, a lot. I don't have to like every decision or non decision he makes to support him or the team.
If Plaxico Burress is wide open and I mean wide open, 30 yards down field (est.) and you hit a guy crossing for 9,10,15 yards still out of field goal range. you have two things.
1. A positive gain for perhaps a first down.
2. A missed opportunity for points on the board.
I think I've been around enough to critique a beloved player without being accused of being a back up lover.
I just want Maddox to see the field better and not lock in on one guy, which he did all day last week, including some success.
While I'm at it, I thought the 15 yard frustration penalty at the end of the game was a bad precedent considering you have guys on the team like Plaxico who still do things a veteran shouldn't (throwing his hat on the field). The KC player didn't do anything to warrant the elbow to the face...unless he said something that was not heard. Either way I understand the frustration but seeing our cool cucumber lose his cool wasn't a positive for me. It wasn't a Jack on Cliff situation by any stretch.
Don't be so over protective and sensitive of Maddox he is a grown man.
If another QB (and I won't mention any names) made some of the same mistakes (yes missing seeing the check WRs is a mistake) he would be ripped until next Tuesday up and down.
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Author: SteelandBlood
Comment: Re: Coming...How about going?
Put away your .45, dirty harry, we're both Tommy Maddox fans here, after all. overall, I agree with you, but Randy Cross on some of those statements was simply wrong.
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Author: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Why don't you respond to the points I made
Why don't you respond to the points I made and leave Randy Cross out of it. Why am I Dirty Harry? I do actually like it when people read and comprehend what I actually wrote?
I could care less what Randy Cross said. I saw what "I" saw and you haven't responded to any of the many points I made, both first hand and in retort to your short sighted essay on my opinions.
A man's got to know his limitations...
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Author: mcmillenandwife
Comment: Re: Why don't you respond to the points I made
Maddox wasn't "missing TDs," Tommy. To the contrary, he had one DROPPED.
Tommy has time... hits Ward for 50-yard bomb.
Tommy has time... sails it high and out of bounds over Ward's head.
Tommy has time... 33-yard TD to Burress.
Tommy has time... perfect 19-yard dart to Burress on 3rd down.
Maddox has time... hits Burress for 12.
Maddox has time... hits Ward for 9.
Maddox has time... hits Ward for 8.
Maddox has time... off Randle El's hands, intercepted & returned for TD. Randle El stopped short on a timing pattern. Not Tommy's fault.
Maddox has time... quick pass to Burress for 5.
Maddox has time... quick pass to Doering for 5 to pick up first down.
Maddox has time... hits Burress for 18.
Maddox rolls out, has time... hits Ward for 21.
Maddox has time... hits Ward for 8 on 3rd & 6.
That is every play through 3 quarters where Maddox had time to throw. I was too frustrated to bother with the 4th quarter. The point is, the line was the problem, not Maddox.
Maddox was 10 of 13 for 1 TD and 1 Int when the line protected him, and if not for a mistake by Randle El and a drop of a sure TD by Burress, Maddox is 12 of 13 for 2 TDs and 0 Ints.
So while you did mention that poor pass protection "didn't help," that's a MILD understatement to say the least. The Steelers ran 34 pass plays during that span... on 21 of 'em, Tommy was facing significant pressure, and on a dozen of him, he was under extreme durress. Factor in that the line allowed ZEOR running game and special teams forked over a pair of easy CHiefs TDs.
You said that "Tommy blew it quite often settling for a short gain or even a first down when a TD was there." Flat out wrong, bro. Where were these supposed TDs you and T3 were "seeing" that Tommy wasn't? Who was open? I wnet through the tape with a fine-toothed comb, and my brutha, they're just not there.
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Author: mcmillenandwife
Comment: BTW...
BTW, Tommy... you mentioned later on in the thread that Maddox was "locking in on one guy all day." While going through all those plays in ultra slow motion to see who was missing their blocks (Marvel Smith and Todd Fordham were HORRID), I also had a chance to watch where Tommy was looking, and I totally disagree with you. When he had time, he was going through his progressions, making his reads. Furthermore, he made the right read & throw on blitzes pratically every time. There's no question that he forced the end zone INT. But I've since read an article that pointed out that his line screwed him on that play by not faking run, so the linebackers never froze. He had 240 pounds flying in his face when he released that pass. Had the line executed, perhaps that play is a TD.
And once again, I think your "pointing out" that Maddox was given poor protection ranks as a massive understatement.
BTW... not that it matters, but since you brought it up, I would've been behind Kordell Stewart BIG time had he played like Tommy Maddox did Sunday.
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Author: SteelerKraut
Comment: The following program has been paid for...
>Been a BUSY week, so I just now got around to re-
>visiting the game tape. Took extensive notes on every
>single play offensive play of the game, with particular
>attention to the O-line and Maddox.
Here's an idea for a new feature of mcmillenandwife.com. Tim, put up a webcam, hook up a videostream server and you have the board members watch your frame by frame VirtualChalk video analysis of the Steelers games. It would beat any postgame report any broadcasting company could create. I'd be willing to pay a Field Pass fee for that.... of course Sandy could use the free air time to do infomercials for bath oils and soaps. I think it will be easy to assemble a camera team for those hot steamy shower scenes....
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Author: baday12345
Comment: 2 down - anybodys game
ok the kc game sucked.
BUT, nobody looks too good this year.
other disappointed contenders this year already-
phi, tb, mia, oak, tenn, ne, gb, stl
we are not alone. the year is long and will take
many turns still.
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Author: mcmillenandwife
Comment: Re: 2 down - anybodys game
Damn well said, baday.
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Author: turbo tounge terry
Comment: all is well in the valley
This is true...the thing is to go and beat the hell out of cincy after what I have seen so far nothing is a cupcake right now so no doubt Cowher & the men will be ready.
Cincy seems to play us tough. Its a long few months till we birth out that SB ring all is well
TTT
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Author: WYOSTEELER
Comment: Are you the infamous Turbo Tounge?
I've heard stories and I saw a picture of you licking a light on the ground. Is it really you? "Wow, I thought you just flew in for games!" Go Steelers!!!
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Author: Steeler Lou
Comment: Re: baday
While I appreciate the "glass half full" optimistic mentality that Tim and yourself bring to the table, we must not ignore the underlying factors that exist within Steeler football.
First, a loss here or there is bound to happen during the season and it is unrealistic to determine the teams potential so early.
However, the fact that we CANNOT ignore is the manner in which we lose year after year, especially so early in the season.
The same issues that have plagued us year after year seem to resurface, if you will and unfortunately I havent seen any improvement with our horrid special teams and secondary. Some of you will say we held the KC passing game to less than 200 yards, well they really didnt need to pass as we all witnessed. Our secondary has truly not been tested as of yet.
This is not a new issue baday, like our weak O-Line. It is very discouraging.
You would think that Cowhead, being a special teams "guru" would take some more iniative and involement within our ST.
If all your gonna due is hire and fire special teams coaches your kinda passing the buck.
But yes, I agree it is early, but our weaknesses are definitely not.
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Author: spokane steeler
Comment: silver linings
All right, we need some good news and cheering up after that disaster Sunday. Here's the good stuff as I see it
1) Last year we were humiliated during our first 2 games and still came an inch from the AFC title game, so no worries.
2) Joey Porter is coming back.
3) I really thought the Browns would come out with a team this year, but no sign of that yet.
4) The passing game has been phenomenal.
5) Hartings gets healthier each and every week.
6) Reed has been awesome
7) We're pretty injury-free, compared to most teams
8) We play the Bungles next.
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Author: Your name here
Comment: Coming soon
Send us your comments!
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